My school bus doesn't have any and I'd like to make the following changes to the lights...
1 swop the lenses around for the reds and ambers at the top.
2 replace the front reds with clear domes.
3 wire the ambers front and back to work in combination with turn signals so I have high and low level turn signals - for added safety.
4 wire the rear reds to work with the brake lights for added safety.
5 wire the front reds - fitted with clear domes as a floodlight on a separate switch
6 wire all the ambers - top and bottom into a hazard circuit.
Its a complex sounding task. Has anybody done it with a carpenter?
Here in krazy Kalifornia there is a max height for such lights on non emergency vehicles regardless of the purpose--you might want to check on what your state says. Jack
Quote from: oltrunt on May 22, 2015, 06:45:50 PM
Here in krazy Kalifornia there is a max height for such lights on non emergency vehicles regardless of the purpose--you might want to check on what your state says. Jack
Jack, Do you know where in the CVC I would find that? I've looked but not found it. I would like to use my red rear high flashers instead as supplementary brake lights, but I fear it would be illegal or at least attract someone's curiosity. The federal regs are ambiguous (what a surprise), but some of our transit buses here have fairly high extra brake lights.
Thanks, John
Fortunately I don't live in kalifirnistan.
Here is a link to the federal lighting requirements, I don't see any height requirements for turn signals. http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/standards/conspicuity/TBMpstr.html (http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/standards/conspicuity/TBMpstr.html)
I haven't heard of individual states having different requirements since things were standardized by the federal government many years ago. Other than optional lighting such as fog lights which sometimes are regulated by local laws.
Quote from: scott332 on May 23, 2015, 05:03:07 AM
Here is a link to the federal lighting requirements, I don't see any height requirements for turn signals. http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/standards/conspicuity/TBMpstr.html (http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/standards/conspicuity/TBMpstr.html)
I haven't heard of individual states having different requirements since things were standardized by the federal government many years ago. Other than optional lighting such as fog lights which sometimes are regulated by local laws.
Yeah, there are height restrictions. Look at the right hand column of the chart. The max height for turn signals (I think front and back) is 83" (6'11" ???? Haven't had coffee this AM) from the road surface.
John. here are a few of the height references from the CVC:
Div 12, chapt 2
24402 auxiliary driving and passing L 16" H 42"
24403 fog lamps L12" H 30"
24411 off road L 16" H 12" above top of pas comp
24600 (f) tail lamps L 15" H 72"
24602 (2) fog tail lamps L 15" H 60"
24603 stop lamps L 15" H 72"
24951 turn signal L 15" H not stated--go 'figger
There are several others but they don't seem to apply to us busnuts.
Jack
Also, that's for the FIRST set of lights, not repeaters.
Yeah, there are height restrictions. Look at the right hand column of the chart. The max height for turn signals (I think front and back) is 83" (6'11" Huh? Haven't had coffee this AM) from the road surface.
Really doesn't make sense if you stop and consider.
Bull Haulers have turn signal indicators built into the very top of their trailers, same with household movers (Bed bug haulers). They have been around for quite a long time. NASCAR and a host of literally hundreds of other trucks are running them in this country every day.
Jus Sayin
On Saturday I was passed by an Atlas Van Lines truck on I-15 with extra brake lights at the roofline of its 53' trailer. It was a new-looking trailer, and they didn't look like they were mickey-moused up there so I assume they came from the trailer factory that way. I couldn't see what make of trailer it was, otherwise I would call the company and ask them about it! I'm thinking that anything that can improve safety or decrease the chance of an accident isn't going to be a LEO's major priority to ticket you. The high brake lights I saw were definitely more noticeable than the regular ones below, especially from further away.
John